Chapter 451 Foraging For Plants

"Alright," Gorrum glanced at Keng as they stepped outside the Tomb. His eyes looked up at the darkening sky. "We don't have much time left. I think we'll have to leave some rocks out for longer. It's too cloudy."

"So we'll grab everything else for now?" Keng asked.

"Mmm, I'll get the Golem Fungus as that one requires flight and I'm very familiar with that. I'll also grab a Cleansing Powder from Dat'e, too. I'll leave the rest to you."

"Alright." Keng turned and looked up towards the top of the Tomb peak. "Sounds fine to me." Keng began to turn around and descend the stairs when Gorrum followed after him.

"Oh, Keng! I forgot to talk to you about what happened the other night." Gorrum watched Keng turn and look at him. "Elder Jyu'so may not ever say anything because it doesn't really concern you, but he wasn't himself that night. I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that when you literally lost your way from the Shaman's place. I'm sorry for that."

"He's doing better?" Keng simply asked. Gorrum was surprised by Keng's question. He didn't think the boy would so easily be understanding especially after what he went through.

"He wants to apologize to you, but hasn't found the words to really do so. I think he's personally found his next pupil." Gorrum smiled. Keng raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms together.

"Pupil?"

"Y'know he hasn't taken one in a century, right? It's been so long since he's taken on a master role. Especially after he took up handling the affairs at Pea'ir." Gorrum patted Keng and began to turn away from him. "Well, that's all I'll say for now. We should get the ingredients before it storms. Get the Moon Roots, Blue Leaves and soak the rocks, alright?"

"Yes, sir. See you later." Keng waved as Gorrum waved at him and disappeared.

It only took Keng a few minutes to find some rocks about the size of his hands. He set the rocks in a spot of sunlight and cleaned the dirt off of his hands as he spun around and looked at the blue trees.

"Rocks, check. Three leaves, check." Keng stuck his hands in his pocket. "Now it's just the Moon Roots on the top of the Tomb." His body rumbled as he lifted off of the ground. He was oddly used to doing this. He lifted higher into the sky, spinning around as he moved towards the top of the Tomb.

There was a earthiness to the Tomb. Maybe because it wasn't taken care of on the outside by the previous Savior who was here, but the earth tones definitely made it look one with the surrounding area. Keng quickly hovered near the top and started to look for the Moon Roots.

Surprisingly enough, there were quite a few plants growing up here. They seemed to have overgrown and started snaking its way down the tip of the building. There were vines, different colored roots and some flowers that had somehow fused with vines that were growing up here. Keng's observant nature had naturally lead him to activating his Energy Sight. To his surprise, only two things lit up with magical energy.

The blue-white Moon Root and the floral vines.

"I wonder what the flower vine thing is." Keng whispered as he moved closer to the Moon Roots. They had a pungent smell to them that made Keng want to cover his nose. The smell was bordering ginger and trash. "Oh god! How is this even— BLEH!" Keng reflexively started to fake barf as he tried to plug his nose. "These roots are huge. How much is four?"

Keng guess-timated (guess and estimated together) what "four" roots looked like and quickly dropped to the ground. He tossed the Moon Roots on the floor and sniffed his hand.

"UGH!" Keng pulled his hand away from his face. The smell of trash overpowered the ginger. He gagged as the door opened. Elder Jyu'so came out and looked at Keng.

"What're you doing out here?" Jyu'so asked. "Where's Gorrum?"

"Getting the rest of the ingredients to do a cleansing." Keng coughed. Elder Jyu'so pinched his nose and turned away.

"What's this horrible smell?" Jyu'so asked.

"Moon Roots." Keng pointed. Elder Jyu'so turned to look at it and his disgust grew larger.

"Why are you using Moon Roots? Is the Cleansing Ritual supposed to make you stink like trash for the next six months?"Elder Jyu'so pointed at the Moon Roots and Keng watched them get sucked into the Void. "I'll keep them in the Void Storage until you need them."

"T-thank you, Elder." Keng fanned the stinky air away.

"What's the Cleansing for? It's not for me. Mine doesn't need Moon roots. What're you doing?" Elder Jyu'so asked his question, again.

"I'm doing an Impurity Ritual. My Light has been affected by the Vengeance Curse and I need to purify my body. Moon Roots were needed. Gorrum went to get Golem Fungus and Cleansing Powder from Dat'e." Keng replied.

"Ah," Elder Jyu'so nodded, taking a couple steps down the staircase and then planting himself on a step. "Have everything you need?"

"For the most part." Keng nodded. Elder Jyu'so pointed at his pockets. There were extra items sticking out of them.

"Those for the Ritual?"

"Oh these?" Keng pointed at his left pocket. "This is for the Shaman's paste she told me to make. I left my bag at Lily's house so I went to forage for them. I think I got enough… Now I just need to turn them to paste and drink it." Elder Jyu'so nodded. It became awkwardly quiet as the two didn't know what to talk about. "Well, I'm gonna make the paste and drink it." Keng pointed at the door. He started climbing the steps as Elder Jyu'so stuck his hand out.

"Wait a moment, Silver one." Jyu'so cleared his throat.

"Hm?" Keng looked at the Elder. Jyu'so folded his hands together and sighed.

"I would like to formally apologize for what happened the other day. Gorrum and I were worried about you not returning home. I thought something bad had happened… When I saw the site of the Goblins dead all around you, my…" Elder Jyu'so's voice trailed off. He licked the inside of his cheeks as he thought of what to say.

"I'm not sure if Gorrum told you this, but I have a condition." Elder Jyu'so began, again. Keng climbed the steps and sat a step below the Elder. "I was cursed to be devoured by my own Darkness… I was young, then. Young and stupid. I thought I was strong, then. Nothing could compare to those feelings of being so young… But I messed with the wrong person and was cursed. I periodically have to do a cleansing ritual by soaking up the Moon's light. It's what keeps me from going crazy.

"I was feeling off, already, and was going to go do the cleansing myself, but I pushed it off. I wasn't in the mood to miss out on being able to train two young students. I haven't trained anyone in over a century, so it was a wonderful experience to do it again… My worry heavily increased the curse when you didn't come back that night. I was already worried for you, but I told myself you could handle it as long as Fate didn't decide to pick an Ogre to cross paths with you.

"Thankfully you just fought Goblins. A few who only evolved once. You took down the hard ones quick and easily overpowered the Goblins. I'm grateful you are practicing and sharpening your skills. You will need to do so in the future, but my worry and Gorrum's worry tipped me over the edge. The curse got to me and my own Darkness bit me in my ass. I'm sorry you and young Lily had to witness such a thing." Elder Jyu'so explained. He let out a sigh as Keng listened attentively.

"I wish Lily was with you, but it's better she's with her family right now. I will explain myself to her when we arrive. For now, we'll take it a day at a time." Jyu'so nodded. The air in front of Keng whistled and whipped, drawing him and Elder Jyu'so's attention. They turned and watched as Gorrum appeared.

"You're back." Elder Jyu'so waved. Gorrum looked between Keng and Elder Jyu'so, giving the Elder a small bow before his eyes stayed on Keng.

"Did you get the rest of the stuff?" Keng asked.

"I did. Did you finish your stuff?" Gorrum replied. His nose instantly began to sniff, disgust growing on his face.

"Yup." Keng nodded. "That's the Moon Root."

"Where is it?"

"Elder took care of it. It's too stinky. We just have to wait for the stones to soak. What do we do in the mean time?" Keng asked.

"If that's the case…" Elder Jyu'so stood up. "Why don't we pay a visit to the Curse location?"

"What? What if my Light needs to be used?" Keng asked.

"I read up on the basics of dealing with Curses. B'haru has excellent notes on this. I'll tell you all about it when we get there. Shall we go?" Elder Jyu'so raised his eyebrows.